Odisha govt asks Collectors to tackle heatwave situation

With mercury in majority towns in Odisha breaching the 40 degree Celsius mark in the last couple of days, the Odisha government today directed the District Collectors to take necessary steps to deal with heatwave situation and ensure zero casualty.

Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Pradipta Kumar Mohapatra directed the District Collectors to remain alert and take all required measures to tackle heatwave situation during this summer.

“As you are aware, the interior Odisha has been experiencing moderate heatwave situation for more than a week. Keeping that in view, we need to be utmost vigilant over the situation and vigorously pursue implementation of different measures to alleviate sufferings of the people, important action points in the situation include, ensuring supply of safe water for drinking and other uses to all habitations facing water scarcity, opening Jala Yogana Kendras, provision of drinking water at worksites and buses, observing rescheduled timings for classes in educational institutions and work hour of labourers, special arrangement in all government hospitals or dispensaries for treatment of heat-stress patients and above all, intensifying the awareness campaign,” Mohapatra said in the letter to the Collectors.

Notably, heatwave action plan was forwarded to the concerned officials in the last week of February.

In response to the action plan, the SRC asked the officials to forward comprehensive action taken report by return mail.

Worth mentioning, the state has been experiencing intense heatwave conditions since over a week. Much to the respite of people, the day temperature dropped at several stations significantly pulling the mercury below the 40 degree Celsius mark.

While 11 stations recorded over 40 degree Celsius yesterday, only 4 towns were above this mark today. Sundargarh remained the hottest place in the state with 42 degree Celsius followed by Angul (41.1), Talcher (40.8) and Malkangiri (40).

The mercury plummeted due to norwester induced rains at several places in the state.